Game apparatus.



P. L. MUNKER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.16, 1911.

1,01 ,034, Patented Jan. 30, 1912 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Home P/aTZ dl-vcuioz f 411712172751:

witnesses J ft. Fm

P. L. MUNKER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T'.16, 1911.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m 2 M M m w M w/Q. W m I 4 4 a 2 J. 1 I1 J Mi I a 4 0 m Y Z 9 Q W. 2 z J4 a 1. 00 a .w w. M IIJIHIMIIIIIH III! I H1 J |I.III| n f0. 2 on...

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP L. MUNKER, OFNEW YORK, N. x.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30,1912.

Application filed October 16, 191i. Serial uo'. 655,061.

To all whom it may concern Be it knownthat I, PHILIP L. MUNKER, acitizen of the United States, residing at 429 Vest Twenty-ninth street,New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved game apparatus.

One object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus by means of whicha game having the semblance of a base ball game may be played therebyaffording an inter esting pastime.

Another object is to provide a game apparatus of this character whichwill be simple and inexpensive in construction and may be readilyoperated by any one to play the ame.

ith these and other objects in view theinvention consists of: certainnovel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1- is a plan view of my improvedgame apparatus; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the top part of theapparatus removed; Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of theapparatus; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional viewon the line 4-4 ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view-of the pivoted defleetingmember for preventing the return of the operating elements through theirdelivery chute or passage; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of one ofthe game pieces.

In the embodiment of. the invention, I provide a shallow box 1 which ispreferably of rectangular oblong shape and comprises side and end pieces2 and 3 which arepreferabl'y formed of wood, a bottom 4 preferablyformed of pasteboard secured to the lower edges of the side and endpieces and a top 5 which is also preferably formed of pasteboard andwhich is engaged with or set into a recess 6 formed in the upper edgesof the side and end pieces as shown whereby the upper surface of the top5 will be flush with the upper edges of the side and end pieces of thebox. When playing the game the box is supported in an inclined positionby a supporting plate 7 hingedly connected to the bottom of the box nearits outer end as shown.

Arranged in the center of the box between the top and bottom thereof isa pair of longitudinally extending parallel partition strips 8 whichform between themselves a passage or alley 9 the purpose of which willbe hereinafter described. The strips 8 terminate some distance from theupper or outer end of the box as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 .of the drawing.Slidably mounted between the lower or inner ends of the strips 8 is aplunger 10 said plunger being secured to the inner end 'of an operatingrod 11 which is slidably engaged with aguide passage 12 formed throughthe inner end of the box as shown. On the rod 11 between the end of thebox and the plunger 10 is arranged'a coiled plunger projecting spring 13which is adapted to be-compressed by the plunger when. retracted by itsoperating rod 11 so that when said rod is released the plunger will beforcibly projected in the passage 9 between the strips 8. The plungerwhen thus projected will come into engagement with a stop block 14arranged and secured between the partition 8 a' short distance from thelower end of the boxas shown. The plunger when thus projected is adaptedto forcibly drive a ball or spherical operating element 15 'up throughthe passage 9 and into the upper portion of the box from whence the ballwill roll back through the box, thus coming into contactwith the gamepieces of the apparatus as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Arranged across the upper end of the space 9 between the strips 8 is aball deflecting block 16, said block having a curved or rounded outersurface and having formed on its upper end and inner side an attachinglug 17 which is pivotally secured between the strips 8 said lug beingarranged at an angle to provide an inclined lower edge which is disposedin the path of the balls or operating elements 15 when shot up thepassage 9 by the plunger 10, said balls when coming into engagement withthe inclined lower edge of the lug'17 swinging the latter and the block16- upwardly to -permit'the ball to pass whereupon as soon as the ballhas passed, said block will drop back by gravity thus closing the upperend of the space or alley 9 and preventing the return of the ballthrough said space.

Arranged in the opposite sides of the second bases.

top of the box are formed apertures 32 the box between the strips andthe sides. of the box are a series of parallel longitudinally disposedpartition strips 18 which are spaced apart'to form a plurality ofchannels or alleys 19 through the box, said strips having their innerends engaged with diago-.

nally disposed stop strips 20 arranged in the lower portion of the boxbetween the strips 8 and the sides 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 ofthedrawing. The outer ends of the strips terminate on an oblique line fromthe central strips 8.to the sides of the box, said ends 3 .being beveledon their outer 'corners' as shown. By thus arranging the strips 18 toform the channels or alleys 19 the balls 15 when driven through thealley 19 into the space above the outer ends of the partition stripswill roll back through said space and down through one of the alleys 19thus tripping the game member over this particular alley as will behereinafter more fully described.

In the space at the u per-end of the box is arranged a filling lilock 21having a. curved segmental inner edge, said block having secured to thecurved inner edge a centrally disposed semi-circular deflecting block22. The blocks 21 and 22 are struck by the balls when shot through thespace, causing said balls to rebound and roll back into the alleys 19 ashereinbefore described. .011 the bottom of the box adjacent to the upperends of the next to the last alleys are arranged ball deflecting studs23 whichinterfere with the movement of the balls and make their entranceto the last two alleys on either side of the box more difficult. Theinner ends of the partition strips 18 have formed in their under sidespassages 24 and in the adjacent portions ,of the strips 8 are alsoformed passages 25, said passages 24 and 25 permitting the balls whenreaching the lower ends of the alleys 19 to roll down the strips 20 andinto the main alley 9 and into position to be again enga ed by theplunger 'and shot or forcibly pro ected up the alley in the mannerdescribed. I

. The upper surface of the top of the box has its upper portion laid offto re resent a base ball field on which is depicted a diamond. On thediamond are indicated the position of the first base 26, a second .base27 and a third base 28. In the top of edges of said openings beingprotected by metal eyelets 33. The openings 32 are each disposed aboveone of the alleys 19 between the partition strips 18 in the bottom ofthe box and over each of said aperturesis arrangeda game piece certainof which are intended to represent players while certain others areemployed for indicating the plays. Each of the game pieces comprises acylindrical block 34 to one side of, which is secured :1 dependingmember 35 which is preferably in the form of a screw having on its lowerend a head 35" and threads on its other end, said screws or" headedshanks .extending through the apertures in the top of the box andprojecting down into the alleys formed by the partition strips 18. Thegame pieces representing the players aredifierently colored from thegame pieces indicating the plays and the game pieces indicating thedifierent kinds of plays are also difl'erently colored. One of theplayer game pieces 36 represents the first baseman and is engaged withan aperture 32 arranged in the top of the box in the position usuallyoccupied by the first baseman. Another game piece 37 is in like mannerdisposed in the position usually occupied by the second baseman. Anothergame piece 38 is disposed in the position usually occupied by theshortstop while still another piece 39 is disposed in the positionoccupied bythe third baseman. Similar game pieces 40, 41 and 42 weengaged with apertures arranged in the positions usually occupied by theright fielder, center fielder and left fielder. In the diamond adjacentto one side of the pitchers box 43 is arranged an aperture with which isengaged a game piece 44 which is intended toindicate the strikes. On

the opposite side of the pitchers box are member of which is. preferablydouble the length of the other game piece 34, said game piece 45 beingprovided with two shanks which project through the apertures 32 and areengaged with the adjoining alleys 19 below sa d aperture. By providingthe game-piece 45 with two shanks, said piece is more frequently trippedby the operating elements or balls rolling back through the box. Thegame piece 45 is intended to represent the balls and for this reason isconstructed so that the same will probably be more frequently tripped asthere are always more balls than strikes recorded in a baseballgame, Thegame pieces 44 and 45 which indicate thestrikes and balls aredifl'erentlyeolored from the other game pieces.

At points near the first and third bases are arranged game pieces 46 theshanks of which project down into the two outer alle'ys, said piecesbeing provided to indicate the foul lines of the field. At the lower endof thefield are arranged a series of game pieces 47 48, 49 and 50 whichare intended to. indicate respectively a three base hit, a *two basehit, a one base hit and a home run.

These game ieces as well as the game pieces indicating the foul linesare difl'erentlyficolored as indicated. It will be understood that theshank ofeach of the game pieces projects through an aperture 32 in thetop of the box and engages a'sep'arate alley and that when the ball, oroperating element rolls down through any of the alleys the game piecewhoseshank is disposedtherein will be rocked byg the passage of theball, so that thecount or play represented by this time piece may berecorded.

On the top of the box belowthe base ball field and the lower row of gamepieces are arranged a series of registering or recording dials, the dial'51 being arranged to indicate the number of strikes, the dial 52 beingarranged to indicate the number of balls, the-dial '53 being arranged toindicate the number of outs. Belowthese dials are arrangeddials 54 and55 which are provided to indicate the number of runs for for each-sideor team, while between the dials 54 and 55 is arranged a dial .56 whichis provided to indicate the of innings played. Each of the dials isprovided with an indicating finger 57 which is pivotally secured to thetop of the bo"x in any suitable manner and is adapted to be manuallyturned to co-act with the numerals of its respective dial. x

The ame is to be played by two persons and in eing pla ed the-balllSz-Pllt in mo:

tion by means 0 the spring plunger 10 in" the manner described, saidplunger shooting the ball up the alley 9 and into the upper portion ofthe box from which it rolls back down through one of the other alleys19.

As the ball rolls down these alleys -.it trips one of the game pieceslocated over the same which'will indicat'e the play or score. If in thusrolling down the alleys the ball trips any of the game piecesrepresenting the infielders or outfielders, thismovement will indicatethe batter is out. If the game piece 44 is tripped it will indicate astrike. If either of the game pieces 46 is tripped it will indicate afoul ball which is recorded as a strike but not after two strikes arerecorded. If three strikes are A recordedv before a put-out or hit, ismade then the batter is out. The trippingof the large game piece 45indicates the balls. If four balls are recorded before a put-out or. "ahitv is made then one of the pegs 31 which represent base runners isplaced on the first base.

The tripping of any of the game pieces 47, 48, 49. or '50 entitles ,thebatter w s many bases as is indicated by the game piece tripped and'oneof the pegs representin the base runners is placed on that base.

I there are an base runners onthe bases they are move forward the samenumber a series'ofdials ada of bases and a base runner reaching the homeplate scores'a run. A base runner also scores a homemn from a secondorthird base on a one base hit. Three outs constitute one-half of aninning at which time the next player takes his turn until three outs arerecorded on his plays: which completes one iiming, and there arepreferably nine innings to a game. No runs can be scored in an inningafter three put-outs are recorded.- Suitable'rules or regulations 'forgoverning the baserunners are provided but a statement of these rules isnot thought to be necessary. 7

From the foregoing description taken'in connection with the accompanyingdrawings the construction and operation of the invention will be readilyunderstood with out requiring a more extended explanation. Variouschanges in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmaybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificinganyof theadvantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is; 1 v 4 I A gameapparatus comprising a box having a top on which is pictured a base ballfield, a plurality of game pieces representing players and arranged-inthe positionsusually occupied by the players in the field, a series'ofgame pieces representing theplays and scores madeby the players,

pe representing base runners and adapted to y e placed on the bases,shanks arranged on said game pieces, a spherical operating elementadapted to engage said shanks and trip said game.pieces, means wherebysaid spherical operating and scores indicate by thegame pieces.

3. In a gameapparatus, a box hav ng a top on which is picturedv abaseball field, a

element is projected, and ted to reglsterthe plays series ofpartitionsarranged in said box er sphericalgoperating element a apted to be pro'ecthrough sai alleys, a. plurality of game pieces representing. the

sin disposed in theplositions on the field usually occupied by t eplayers, a strike ,u .thebox and to roll back players, said piecesthetop to'form a pluralit of alleys,,a 125.

indicating game piece, a ball indicating game piece, a series of basehits, and home run indicating game pieces, means on said game piecesadapted to project through the cover of the box and into said alleys inposition to be engaged by the ball rolling down the latter whereby thegame pieces are tripped and the plays and scores thus indicated.

4. A game apparatus comprising a box having a cover on which is pictureda base ball field, a pair of longitudinally disposed partition stripsarranged to form an alley,

a spring ball projecting plunger arranged in the inner end of saidalley, a retracting stem secured to said plunger, a game piece trippingball adapted to be projected through said alley and into the upper endof the box by said plunger, means to prevent the return of the ballthrough said alley, stop strips arranged diagonally across the boxbetween said partition strips and the sides of-the box, a series oflongitudinally disposed parallel partition strips arranged on theopposite sides of said central pair of strips to form a plurality ofalleys down which said ball is adapted to roll after being projectedinto the upper portion of the box, said strips having formed in theirinner ends alined passages through which and through the central pair ofstrips the return ball is adapted to roll back into the central alley, aplurality of game pieces arranged in the field pictured on the top ofthe box, said game pieces representing the players and projectingthrough the top of't'he box and into the alleys formed by the partitionin the box and adapted to be engaged by the ball rolling back throughthe alley whereby said game pieces are tripped.

5. In a game apparatus, a box having a top on which is pictured a baseball field, a series of partitions arranged in said box below the top toform a plurality of alleys, asphericaloperating element adapted to beprojected through said alleys, a filling block arranged in the upper endof the box, said block having a concavedouter edge adapted to receiveand return the ball, a ball deflecting block arranged in the center ofsaid concaved edge, deflecting studs arranged in the box near the upperends of the outer alleys, a plurality of game pieces representmg playersand indicating plays and scores, c

said game pieces being arranged on the top of the box, shanks connectedwith said game piecesand projecting down into the box and into posit-ionto be engaged by the ball rolling back down through said alley, andmeans whereby the scores lndicated by said game pieces are recorded.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PHILIP L. MUNKER. Witnesses:

OSCAR A. FAULBORN, G. H. DE GLINDT.

